Amusement device



Feb. 12, 1929.

L. MARX AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Dec. 26, 1924 INVENTOR Louis Marx BYmwtmumrs Patented Feb. '12, 1929.

"LOUIS MARX, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

- musmmrr nnvrcii.

Application flled December 2c, 1924. Serial no. 758,094.

This inventionrelates .to an amusement apparatus, and more particularlyto an amusement apparatus offthe type in which a vehicle platform orcarrier is oscillated with a rotary tilting or gyrating motion to causeone or more vehicles to travel thereon cyclically in circular paths.

Amusement apparatus in which a vehicle platform or carrier is oscillatedwith a rotary tilting or. gyrating motion have been constructed in anumber of forms and utilized either as amusement railways orroundabouts, or as racing toys. When constructed as an amusement"railway "or Froundabout, the platformv or vehicle carrier is oscillatedor is given a combined rotary, and oscillatory motion to: causeoccupantecarrying vehicles or cars thereon to traveler be automaticallypropelled by gravity in circularor other orbits} When constructed as atoy, the platform or vehicle carrier is oscillated to cause simulatedvehiclessuch as railway cars, automobiles and the like to travelcyclically in circular or other paths thereon. A principal object ofthepresent invention relates to the provision of an improved and,simplified gyrating amusement apparatus of this typewhich'may. beembodied as an amusement or pleasure railway or as a racing toy.

More specific prime objects of my inven tion include the provision of anamusement apparatus in which a novel and improved means is utilized forsupportingthe plat form for its gyratingmotion to permit of securing abalanced, smooth and uniform rocking motion of the latformiwithrelatively simple and easi y operable 'motor mechanism; the furtherprovision of an amusement apparatus of this nature in which the motormechanlsm for oscillating the,

platform or carrier embodies means for rockably supporting theplatfonnyandthe still further provision of an apparatus of this naturein which the platform, and motor mechanism therefor are associated orinter-related soas to permit the same to be readily assembled anddisassembled'by the user or operator toafi'ord easy access-to the partsfor purposes of adjustment, repair and replacement of parts, theorganization being such that whenthe apparatus is constructed in theform of a racingtoy, the parts may be boxed or packaged in disassembledformation by the manufacturer,

such parts being readily put togetherby the PATENT OFFICE. 1

simple step of placing the platform position on the motor mechanismwithout ad justmentof any of the parts. p

A further and correlated principal object of my inventionvthereforeconsists in organijzing and relating the platform, its support and themotor. mechanism therefor in accordance with a simple law of combinationso as to permit the manufacture of the amusement apparatus, especiallywhen embodied in the form of aftoy, with the fewest of parts andat acomparatively low cost of production, assembly and distribution.

To the accomplishment ofthe foregoing and such other objects as willhereinafter appear, my invention consists in the 'e1'ements and theirrelation one to the other,

as hereinafter particularly described and 1 sought to be defined in theclaims; reference being'had to the accompanying draw ings "which showthepreferredembodiment of myinventiomand in which: 4

Fig. 1 is a vertical -elevat-ional view with parts broken away of theimproved, amusement apparatus embodying my and p I Fig. 2 is a planview, thereof. 7

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, theimproved amusementdevice ofmy invention comprises the-oscillatable vehicle carrier orplatform generally designatedas invention,

P which is supported and operated by a combined supporting andmotormechanism generally designated as M, the construction being such thatthe operation of the motor mechanism imparts a rotary tilting orgyr'atcausing one or morevehicles thereon to travel or be propelledinflcircular' paths or orbits, I

When the invention is embodied in the (form of a toy, the platform Ppreferably comprises a plate or. disk-shaped member 10 ing oscillating'motion to the platform for I c as j or circular paths14 and 15 formingraceways for one or a plurality of simulated "vehicles or carsjsuch as16 and 17 which are adapted to travel or be propelled along the racewayswhen the platform is given its undulating or oscillating motion. Theplatform is further provided with a central cup-shaped bearin 18 andwith a slot 19 arranged inradia alinement' with the bearing forcooperation with the supporting means for the platform,

which will be described presently.

As heretofore mentioned, one of the objects of the present inventloncenters about the provislon of a novel and improved means for supportingthe platform for its oscillatingv 'gyrating motion to permit of securinga balanced and smooth rocking mot1on of the bearing 18 of the platform Pand providing a pivot mounting therefor. Preferably the end 20 of thepivot post 20 is made pointed or conical-shaped, and the inner wallofthe bearing 18 is also made conical so that a point pivot bearingbetween the post support and the platform is obtained. In the form ofconstruction embodied in the drawings, the platform is constrained to anoscillating motion only and isrcstrained against rotation, and to thisend there is provided an upstanding rod 21 fixed to a stationary part ofthe apparatus such as the lid or cover 22 of a motor casing 23, and thesaid rod projects through the slot or aperature 19 of the platform P.With this construction it will be seen that the platform is restrainedagainst rotation and is. supported in a balanced manner to permit of afree and smooth rocking or oscillating motion with the use ofcomparatively simple motor mechanism. It will be further apparent fromthe construction thus far described that the platform may be readilyremoved from its support by the mere'lifting of the former from thelatter. the parts being thus related and organized to permit the boxingor packaging of the parts in separated or disassembled formation in acompact manner and to permit the user toreadily assemble the partswithout the necessity of adjustment by simply placing theplatform on itssupport.

In the preferred construction, for the purpose of still furthersimplifying the organization and reducing the number of parts toaminimum, the supporting post 20 forms part of the motor mechanismM. Themotor mechanism h l comprises a spring motor 24 housedby the casing 23,the said spring motor being provided with. a winding means 25 forenergizing the motor, and with a stop ratchet mechanism 26 for holdingthe motor in. an energized condition, energization of said motorfunctioning for imparting motion to. a train of gears connected to thepivot post 20 for imparting a rotatingmovement thereto. The gear trainpreferably comprises a gear 27 fixed to a drum 28 to which the, springmotor 24 is attached, the gear 27 meshing with a pinion 29 fixed to ashaft 30, which shaft carries a gear 31, the said gear 31 meshing with agear 32, which latter is fixed to the lower end of the pivot post orshaft 20, the said shaft being journalled in spaced bearings 33 and 3'l' fixed to ing 23.

the easwlri'ch comprises a gear 35 fixed to the'shaft Preferably themotor mechanism is provided with a starting and stopping device 30 andmeshing with a pinion 36, to which' is attached a toothed member such asa gear 37 both fixed to a shaft 38, the said toothed member cooperatingwith a crank portion 39 of a movable arm4c0, the said arm being adaptedto be rocked from the position shown in Fig. 1, in which the crankportion 39 is out of engagement with the teeth of the gear 37, to aposition for causing engagement of said crank-portion withthe teeth ofthe gear 37, motion of the controlling arm 40 thus permitting thestarting a and stopping of the IIlOtOlflTlECllEllllSlll.

For imparting the desired oscillatory motion to the platform P, Iprovide means connected to the shaft20 so as to be rotated thereby, thesaid means comprising in the preferred construction a member 41, whichmember includes a V transversely arranged rod 42 adjustablyreceivable'by the shaft 20 and fixed thereto by means of an adjustingscrew 43, the said transverse rod carrying a rotary element or wheel lafreely rotatable thereon, the said rotary element 44 being arranged forengaging the under-wall of the platform and being adapted to ride inengagement therewith when the shaft 20 is rotated. With thisconstruction, it will be evident that when the motor mechanism isreleased andfthe shaft 20 rotated. the rotary engagement of the wheellwith the platform P will cause all parts of the said platform to moveprogressively from high to low positions, so that the said platform. isrocked with the angle of dip or inclina-' tion progressively rotating,the oscillating motion imparted tothe platform being in the nature of arocking or gyrating motion. As a result of this gyrating or rotarytilting motion of the platform, the vehicles 16 and 17 thereon inseeking the lowest levels will travel'or be propelled along the raceways14v and 15, and will thus move cyclipivoted mounting of the platform,the motor I mechanism M may be of relatively simple construction, sincethe amount of energy required for oscillating the platform or vehiclecarrier at its pivotal mounting is comparatively small. With theconstruction provided, therefore, I am enabled when the apparatus isembodied in the form of "a toy to employ comparatively inexpensive andsimple motive mechanism and to obtain thereby an operation of relativelylong duration. It will be further seen that the means for effecting theoscillation of a platform is simple and composedof a minimum v of parts,thus minimizing the possibility of derangement and wear and tear, andpermitting the parts to be readily adjusted or repaired by the child oroperator. It will be further seen that by arranging the motor mechanismbelow the platform, a stable apparatus is obtained and the motor mechanism is appropriately concealed by the've-' hicle carrier.

It will also'be seen that a further important advantage of theconstructional embodiment of my invention resides in the 1 a low cost.

It will be apparent to those skilled the art that numerousconstructional changes may be made without departing from the principlesof the invention. Thus althoughin the preferred form of the inventionthe shaft 20 serves both as a supporting means and as a part of themotor mechanism, changes may. obviously be made therein to permit thesefunctions to be carried out-by independent instead 1 ofunitary means.Other and numerous changes may be made Without departing from theessence of the invention, defined in the following claims.

I claim: V V

1. An amusement device comprising a motor casing, a motor mechanismhoused by said casing, a rotary shaftconnected to said motor mechanismand extending up-. Wardly from said casing, a pivot bearing concentricwith 'and at the upper end. of said shaft, an oscillatable platformmounted on and supported by said pivot bearing and a member fixed tosaid rotary shaft formovement therewith aboutthe shaft as an axis andarranged to engage said platform in its rotation for oscillating thesame with a gyrating motion.

' 2. An amusement device comprising a motor casing, a motor mechanismhoused by said casing, a rotary shaft connected to 531d motor mechanismand 'extendingupwardly from said casing, a pivot bearing at the upperend of said shaft, an oscillatable platform having a central bearingmounted on the pivot bearing, the latter forming a support for theplatform, the said platform being detachable from its support when theshaft'as an axis and arran ed to engage said platform in its rotation for oscillating the same with a gyrating motion.

3. In an'amusement device, a supporting housing, a track structurecomprising a dished plate associated. therewith and havinga support onthe housing permitting of universal rocking motion, a cam eccentric tothe point of support for the track structure and revolubleconcentrically about the support for the track'structure, in contactwith a part of thetrack structure, the support andcam defining freeupper points of support'for the plate, the said free upper liftedtherefrom, and a member fixedto said 1 rotaryshaft for movementtherewith about points of support being such that. the plate isremovable from the free points of support by a lifting action, a motoroperatively connected with the cam and a gravity propelled object on thetrack. i

. 4. An amusement device comprising an oscillatory platform, a posthaving a pivotal support for said latform, the said platform beingremova ly attachable to said J post, means adapted to be driven in acircle about the post and bearing againsta part of the platform forimparting a gyrating motion to the platform about said pivotal sup port,said platform being also detachably receivable by said means, the saidmeans and pivotal point of support being relatively adjustable forvarying the angle ofgyratory movement of said platform.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, this 23rd day of Dec., A. D. .1924. i i LOUIS MARX.

